The 61 Years in Business of Red McCombs

Texan Billy Joe "Red" McCombs, 83, has owned businesses in a variety of fields over his long career: spanning car dealerships, sports teams, real estate, radio and more. He was named one of the 400 richest Americans by Forbes in 2005.

Red got his start back in 1950 right after dropping out of law school. While waiting to begin a corporate job in a few weeks, he planned to work in the oil fields. But a chance conversation with a friend pointed Red in a different direction.

Said the persuasive man,

You ought to come down and sell cars with us. Hell, you don't have to work, and they give you a new car to drive. You don't have to live out with those rattlesnakes out on the drilling rig,

To a 22-year-old in 1950, it sounded great. The icing on the cake was that the new car dealership was located in Corpus Christi, where his girlfriend, who soon became Mrs. McCombs, lived. He took his friend up on the invitation and quickly ditched the corporate job too. As the years went by Red kept his eyes peeled and ears open for opportunities, becoming famed far and wide as one of America's top car dealers, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

More about Red at Automotive News